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Provincial officials are asking Manitobans to avoid gathering with people they don’t live with this holiday season.

Premier Brian Pallister was emotional last week as he declared himself “the guy who’s stealing Christmas to keep you safe.”

As we get closer to the holidays, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin is making the public health recommendations clear: don’t travel, don’t gather, and don’t have people over at your house who don’t normally live there.

“Everyone should celebrate with members of their household only.”

"Limit contacts as much as you reasonably can", says Dr. Roussin

Roussin says there are some exemptions to the gathering rules for those who live alone.

“We want to ensure that [people who live alone] do have the ability of face time with other people. But all of this comes with some risk, right? The more contacts you have, the more risk there is. That’s the interpretation of the orders. Our messaging is to limit your contacts, as much as you reasonably can, to people of your household.”

Under current public health orders, someone who lives alone in Manitoba may designate one person to come spend time with them — and they may also visit that person's household, as well.

Drive-in Christmas Mass

This week health officials announced the extension of Code Red measures until January 8th, and also made some slight adjustments to the orders.

Drive-in style events, like church services, have now been given the green light by the province.

Under the revised orders, holiday-themed items like Christmas decorations are now allowed to be sold in-store.

Although the holidays will look much different this year, that’s not exactly dampening the Christmas spirit — a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute shows the same number of Canadians are looking forward to the holiday season compared to last year.

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Dec 10, 2020 - 3:21 pm

Manitoba’s top doctor announced another 13 deaths and 293 new cases of COVID-19 today.

The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

• 39 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• 41 cases in the Northern health region;
• 12 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 49 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 152 cases in the Winnipeg health region. 

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (7), Riding Mountain (11), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (22), Duck Mountain (21), Asessippi (4), Little Saskatchewan (4), Whitemud (2). Brandon has 98 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 28 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 38.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.3 percent provincially and 13.9 percent in Winnipeg.

Manitoba now has 19,947 cases with 5,380 active and 14,116 recovered.

There are 298 people in hospital with the virus and 43 in intensive care. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Manitoba is 451.

Public health officials advise 13 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including: 

• a male in his 70s from the Interlake–Eastern health region
• a female in her 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Villa Youville personal care home
• a male in his 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Park Manor Care Home
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Park Manor Care Home
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre and
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Charleswood Care Centre

Details

Contributed by Tess Kovach

Published: Dec 10, 2020 - 12:55 pm

The province is eliminating the shopping hour restrictions that force businesses to close after 6 p.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays. Finance Minister Scott Fielding made the announcement today saying the new legislation will be in effect starting Saturday, December 12.

“Given the current public health restrictions in place to protect Manitobans, we want to provide flexibility to businesses and customers and allow more opportunity for curbside pickup and delivery options as well as longer in-person shopping hours to minimize crowds. During this critical time for retailers across the province, we believe these updated laws will help many businesses with additional revenues as we head into the holiday season.”

All businesses in Manitoba now have the choice to remain open later on Sundays and during statutory holidays, but municipalities have the authority to pass bylaws if they prefer to keep some restrictions in place.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Retail Council of Canada and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce wrote an open letter in mid-November, recommending the government make the change.

The province will maintain its current retail hour restrictions on Remembrance Day.

Manitoba was the only Western Canadian province to restrict retail business hours on Sundays and holidays.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Dec 10, 2020 - 6:53 am

Cam Abrey's father was a business owner, a firefighter, and he was on a number of boards. When Cam settled in Dauphin more than 20 years ago, he wanted to give back to the community just like his father did so he joined the Dauphin Fire Department as a volunteer and he walked through the doors for the first time on December 8, 1999. 

Less than 10 years later, Abrey worked full-time at the department as he was hired as a Fire Prevention Officer doing fire inspections within Dauphin and the RM of Dauphin. He also provided public education and assisted the Fire Chief.

On February 24, 2011, Abrey received another promotion and he is now going on ten years in the position of being Fire Chief for the Dauphin Fire Department. 

"It really is quite an honour. To be in the position I am in, I get to give back to the community, meet, and work with so many great people," said Abrey. "We are all in this together and it's such a humbling experience."

Abrey also celebrated his 21st anniversary with the department earlier this week and as he says, he loves what he does.

"I always make a joke with the kids, you can either grow up or be a firefighter, but you can't be both," ended Abrey. "Every firefighter is just a giant kid at heart. I think every little kid pictures themselves in that truck when the fire truck drives by and here I am, living the dream."

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Dec 10, 2020 - 5:00 am

On the same day Health Canada approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine, Manitoba health officials laid out their early planning for the province’s vaccine rollout.

“We will focus our initial immunization efforts on those most at risk of COVID-19 including seniors, those working in the health-care system and in long-term care facilities, and Indigenous peoples,” said Premier Brian Pallister.  

He confirmed the first 1,950 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive next week — enough to immunize about 900 recipients (with two doses each).

The Pfizer vaccine — which showed 95% effectiveness in trials — requires two doses to confer protection from the virus. The second dose is required three weeks after the first inoculation.

Another 228,000 of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expected to arrive in Manitoba between now and March 31 — enough to vaccinate about 7% of the population.

“There is only a very limited supply of these new vaccines, and very likely there will only be a limited supply of these vaccines available before the spring. We can not let our guard down,” said the Premier. 

“The cavalry is not here yet, and we have to make sure that we’re defending one another.”

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Dec 9, 2020 - 1:47 pm

Public health officials announced 18 more COVID-related deaths today, including an 80-year-old woman from the Grandview Personal Care Home.

Health officials also announced 280 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the provincial total to 19,655.

The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

• 27 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• 19 cases in the Northern health region;
• 15 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• 26 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 193 cases in the Winnipeg health region. 

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (6), Riding Mountain (12), Swan River (2), Porcupine Mountain (21), Duck Mountain (22), Asessippi (4), Little Saskatchewan (4), Whitemud (3), Agassiz Mountain (2).  Brandon has 98 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 27 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 35.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.5 percent provincially and 14.5 percent in Winnipeg.

Of Manitoba’s cases, 5,348 are considered active, and 13,869 have recovered.

The number of people in hospital is 300, with 38 in intensive care. The number of deaths is 438.

Public health officials advise 18 additional deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported today including: 

• a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 50s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Health Science Centre unit GA3 
• a female in her 60s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 60s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Victoria General Hospital unit 4S
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Maples Long Term Care Home
• a male in his 80’s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Park Manor Care Home
• a female in her 80s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, linked to the outbreak at Grandview Personal Care Home
• a male in his 80s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Misericordia Health Centre's Transitional Unit
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Park Manor Care Home and
• a male in his 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Holy Family Personal Care Home

Details

Contributed by Tess Kovach

Published: Dec 9, 2020 - 12:52 pm

The mayor of Grandview is voicing some concerns within the community about disruptions to healthcare services.

On Nov. 26, Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) temporarily suspended hospital and emergency services at the Grandview Health Centre while staff are reassigned to assist with the outbreak situation at the Grandview Personal Care Home.

“I know we have to provide that help to the personal care home.  I understand why it was done — I just don’t like the way it was done,” says Grandview Mayor Kevin Edmondson.

Edmondson says he understands it’s a complicated situation for Prairie Mountain Health to manage, but he takes issue with the short notice given ahead of the decision.

He says he was notified of the hospital closure by PMH CEO Penny Gilson at 12:30 p.m on Wednesday — and that the hospital doors were closed by 8 a.m. Thursday morning.

“Not much notice — and that was the same notice that workers in Grandview hospital and the care home found out as well.”

A statement from Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson counters that “decisions during a pandemic often need to be made quickly and redeployment from acute care centres is part of the staffing escalation plan for Personal Care Homes.”

Temporary Closure Of Grandview Hospital

The Grandview mayor says there are concerns within his community in light of recent examples of health service disruptions and closures in the area.

“I know people are gloom and doom thinking they’re going to shut the [Grandview] hospital forever. I just can’t wrap my head around any government or health services make that decision on that premise.”

Prairie Mountain Health says a minimum three-week closure of the Grandview hospital is necessary to mitigate potential negative outcomes during the care home outbreak.

Filling Vacant Healthcare Positions

Edmondson also points out that a considerable amount of leg work to preserve health care services has been taken on by the community.

He says the municipality recruited two International Medical Graduates from Nigeria, who now work full-time in Grandview. He says incentives are also offered to attract nurses to work in the area.

“It’s too bad we have to do that, but that’s what it is. We have to take the bull by the horns because if we wait — it wont happen. Not right away anyway — the government moves slow," says Edmondson.

A statement from the regional health authority says Prairie Mountian Health "always welcomes the collaborative engagement of communities in recruiting and retaining health care staff."

Status of Grandview Care Home Outbreak

Two deaths related to the COVID outbreak have been reported at the Grandview Personal Care Home -- a man in his 70s and a woman in her 80s. The outbreak at the Grandview PCH was first declared on Oct. 30.

As of Dec. 8, the province says a total of 30 cases have been identified there. Nine staff members have tested positive, along with 21 residents.

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Dec 9, 2020 - 11:55 am

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he won’t be pressured to re-open the Canada-U.S. border until COVID cases are down.

He says he is going to be very cautious when it comes to re-opening in order to keep Canadians safe.

In a virtual meeting with the Assembly of First Nations, Trudeau said that opening the border too soon could be catastrophic.

The border is closed to non-essential travel until Dec. 21^st, but the Prime Minister has indicated that the closure will likely be extended.

Details

Contributed by Tess Kovach

Published: Dec 9, 2020 - 11:47 am

The vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTECH has been given the green light by Health Canada.

Up to 249,000 doses are expected this month, with another four million doses of the Pfizer vaccine set to arrive in Canada by March.

Manitoba says the first freezer able to store the Pfizer vaccine at low temperatures has been delivered and installed, with another four on the way.

Health Canada is reviewing three other vaccine candidates.

The province recently announced will also be receiving an increased allotment of the Moderna vaccine — which does not require the same ultra-cold temperatures as the Pfizer option.

Officials say the Moderna vaccine will be less complicated to distribute to Manitoba's isolated and remote First Nations communities.

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Contributed by 730 CKDM

Published: Dec 9, 2020 - 10:45 am

The provincial government has announced $7.7 million dollars is available for personal care homes (PCH) to address COVID-19 related costs.

Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen made the announcement today.

“We told personal care operators and others to focus their efforts on helping to protect Manitobans – that patient care should be their first priority, and not financial considerations.”

Eligible costs include those related to staffing, enhanced cleaning procedures, and the move to the one-site model, which means that PCH staff will only work at that particular PCH, where in the past staff have worked at different PCHs on different days.  

This funding has been provided for the first two quarters of 2020-21 and for the remaining quarter of 2020-21.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Dec 9, 2020 - 10:35 am